General Quarters won Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Owned and trained by Thomas McCarthy, General Quarters won the $750,000 Blue Grass by a length and
a half over Bill Mott's Hold Me Back. Massone third.

GQ is the only horse that McCarthy trains. Not bad for a one horse stable.

Heavy Favorite Old Fashioned went to the lead and ended up second by about a length.

...and has a mule gene somewhere, by what the jockey said before the race - that if you try to pull him back, he pulls that much harder to go faster.

I thought he ran a pretty good race, to finsish second by not much, after the first quarter and keeping the lead all the way. But hard for me to think he'll win the Derby doing that?

I haven't followed Papa Clem at all (don't much care for the name) but I thought that was a nice race he ran.

As far as I know, the only one of the prep horses who cost less is Musket Man, and if the two of them finished 1 - 2 in the Derby either way I'd be perfectly fine with that.

but he gets the job done.

I can't help but root for this guy. If the old trainer with the one horse stable upset the
Pletcher/Asmussen/McLaughlin freight train I would be overjoyed. It is a great story.

you mean. Unlikely - my eye can't even pick up when they switch leads - they just move too fast for me.

Yes, I'd love to see the juggernauts upset by the one-horse trainer and his $20.000 colt. I've never forgiven the racing world blue-bloods/hard-boots or whatever they call them for their sneers at Funny Cide and his people.

he looks funny but you're right, he gets it done.

Justpat, I want this guy to win for all the little guys in the business.

Old Fashioned injured in Arkansas Derby
By Mary Rampellini

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Old Fashioned is out of the Kentucky Derby after emerging from his second-place finish in the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday with a non-displaced slab fracture to his right knee, said his trainer, Larry Jones. The horse is scheduled to ship Monday to Lexington, Ky., where he could have surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

"It's not life-threatening, it should be okay," Jones said. "Career-ending is a possibility just because of the type of horse he is. But we'll see. We'll let them make that call."

Old Fashioned set a quick pace in the Arkansas Derby and fought on through the lane to finish a half-length behind winner Papa Clem.

"He was coming back on the end," Jones said. "I'm awful proud of him."

Source: http://www.drf.com/news/article/102938.html


I'm skeptical we'll ever see him race again. I think after the Triple Crown hype subsided he would've made a good miler. This is a shame, but at least Larry Jones and crew have Friesan Fire headed to the big show. That's some consolation.

And on the Arkansas Derby, Papa Clem's win has to flatter Pioneerof the Nile to some degree. The West Coast 3-year-olds sure are doing well when come east to the dirt.

I knew something was wrong. I think they trained him lightly up to this race and there was
a reason. Good thing it happened this way instead of in front of the entire world on the
first saturday in May.

in the stretch. Even if he didn't run in the Derby (after the race Bailey was saying he didn't think they should run him) I was thinking I'd look forward to seeing his next race. What does Jones mean, "just because of the type of horse he is?" Would he command such a stud fee that it would be more sensible to retire him?

I suppose this helps Dunkirk's chances at a spot in the gate.

It is serious for 10,000 claimers. I quess Jones means that because he has won graded stakes
he is a stallion prospect. A gelding would be off to the life of a riding horse.

Some horses do come back from slabs - but not many. The ones that make it back usually have
some hardward in the knee to hold it together and it makes them arthritic.

It's on the Bloodhorse front page.

I'm sorry that I won't get to see this colt run again - I always seem to develop a fondness for the stubborn ones - there were a couple of crazies on the track a few years ago that I grew quite fond of, though not sure of their names now. And Rock Hard Ten's gate antics. But, as you said upthread, thankfully nothing worse happened and he gets to retire.

it almost brings tears to my eyes when I think about Thomas McCarthy and this horse. What a wonderful story and how great it is that Mr. McCarthy is going to the Derby with a loaded gun. Every struggling trainer or owner dreams of making it to Churchill with a bargain basement horse with the heart of a lion.

I wish McCarthy all the luck in the world.

I was just thinking last week how it was a shame this story had fallen off the radar with GQ's poor performance in the Tampa Bay Derby. Nice to see him rise again! It is a wonderful story.

An upset with this WinStar Farm horse trained by Pletcher and ridden by Gomez.

More interesting to me as Square Eddie's prep race after his long break since the beginning of the year. He made a huge move round the turn to take the lead, then flattened out and seemed to tire to finsish 3rd. Does O'Neill take him to the Kentucky Derby?

and we use him in our tri's. He made a nice move and he was a little short. He got something out of this race and should be ready for the Derby.

I still like Freisan Fire to win the Derby. My girlfriend likes Quality Road and Dunkirk. I Want Revenge will probably kick all our asses, though. IWR is one tough SOB and his Wood Memorial is still the best performance of this Triple Crown season. IWR was amazing.

...this one too. I was pretty wowed by the moves both Square Eddy and Advice made. But like Sid, I am still most impressed with IWR's Wood.

On a side note, it seems to me that this year the producers are giving more on-camera time to the horses, with the commentators voice - over or in a little photo up in the corner - which is a good thing. It drives me crazy when they keep the camera on some jawbone while describing a move they could as well show on camera. Now, if during the run-up to the race they would analyze more of the races with the camera on the horse in question, do some slo-mo while explaining where the jockey is placing the horse or the boldness of threading a split-second hole, and give us some more close-ups with sound so people get a better "feel" for the excitement and speed, I'd be even happier.

they should always be the most important part of the story. I could care less what Todd, Steve, Rick or Bobby have to say. I want to hear about their horses. I like your idea about giving more analysis on the running of the race and the use of slo-mo replay.

...be patient through the slow first few minutes - the ride is worth it! (loved the pricked ears all the way.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv49V2RzgHw

aaronbees posted it on Facebook the other day and I watched it about 3x's. I watched again and it makes me wish I was an exercise rider.

It's otherworldly. She is just so massive, muscly and elegant!